Feb. 6, 2010
2010 Soccer Signees 
By Brett Maikowski
Southeast Missouri State Sports Information
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri State Redhawks head soccer coach Heather Nelson announced the signing of six players to National Letters of Intent. The group includes three from Missouri and three from Illinois.
"We are fortunate to sign an excellent group of student-athletes," said Nelson. "The talent level of this year's class will build on our foundation and take us to another level with our ultimate goal of competing for OVC championships and NCAA Tournament Appearances."
Three of the six signees come from Missouri, including Jacey Boyko (O'Fallon, Mo./St. Dominic H.S.), Jessica Grindstaff (Lee's Summit, Mo./Notre Dame H.S.), and Signe Novak (Lake St. Louis, Mo./St. Dominic H.S.).
Boyko was a First Team All-State and All-Conference player as a junior at St. Dominic High School. That same year, she guided her team to a 3rd place finish in the state championships after leading the Crusaders with 15 goals and 21 assists on the season.
Coach Nelson on Boyko: "Jacey is an attacking minded player who has the ability to get behind the defense and open up space for other players. She is an excellent crosser and finisher, and we expect her to contribute immediately. Her technical ability, work ethic, and level of fitness will positively impact the team both offensively and defensively."
Grindstaff helped lead Notre Dame de Sion High School to the District Championship every year. She also led the team to 1st through 3rd place finishes at the State Championship level her freshman through junior years. Grindstaff's personal accolades include Goalkeeper of the year, Second Team All-State, and All-District teams.
Coach Nelson on Grindstaff: "Jessica is an excellent shot stopper and good decision maker in goal. Her quickness, overall athletic ability, work ethic and experience will allow her to immediately compete for the starting position. We are excited about her future as a Redhawk and are confident that she will make an immediate and positive contribution to our defensive unit as a whole."
Novak was a First Team All-Conference, All-State, All-Metro, and Offensive Player of the Year at St. Dominic High School. In 2007, she led the team in scoring with 20 goals on the year, while guiding the team to a first place finish at the state championships. The next year, Novak remained the top scorer with 24 goals and finished third at the state championships.
Coach Nelson on Novak: "Signe is a composed, attacking minded player. She is a natural play maker who has the ability to delay and allow the attack to develop, or be a goal scoring threat. She is technical with both feet, has an excellent attitude towards finishing, and the ability to release early and threatening shots from a distance."
The other signees will come to Southeast from Illinois, including Taylor Byrd (Columbia, Ill./Columbia H.S.), Rachel Compton (Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville H.S.), and Stephanie Palmer (Marion, Ill./Northwind Academy).
Byrd led the team to a third place finish in Illinois State Class A as a sophomore. Over her four years at Columbia High School, she was awarded Athlete of the Month, Metro East Player of the Year, Bi-State Shoot-Out MVP, Belleville News Democrat Girl's Soccer Class A Player of the Year, and St. Louis Cardinals Athlete of the Week. Byrd was also selected to the All-Sectional, All-Tournament, and All-Metro Teams as a junior.
Coach Nelson on Byrd: "Taylor has the athletic tools and the competitive mentality to fight for numerous positions on the field. She is truly a possession player who is recognized for playing simply and quickly. She has an excellent work ethic, a physical presence, and is an extremely fit athlete."
Compton was a four year varsity soccer player at Edwardsville High School. As a junior, she received First-Team All-Conference and All-Tournament team honors, as well as being selected as MVP, All-Sectional, and News Democrat Class 3A First Team All-Area. Her team won the regional championship twice in three years, along with the sectional championship once.
Coach Nelson on Compton: "Rachel has the technical ability, tactical understanding and mentality to immediately compete for a starting position in the defensive unit. She is an excellent on field communicator who reads the game well. We look forward to building on her ability to be a dangerous attacking threat coming out of the back. Her service into the box is excellent, and on the defensive end, her physical strength and tenacity in 1v1 battles makes her a tough player to beat."
Palmer was a four year varsity starter and two-time captain at Marion High School. She averaged 1.0 goal per game as a sophomore and 1.2 goals per game as a junior. Palmer was selected to the South Seven All-Conference First Team, IHSSCA All-Sectional Team, and the Missouri Olympic Development Team twice.
Coach Nelson on Palmer: "Stephanie is a natural left-footed player. She is technically solid with both feet and has the ability to take players on and get behind defenders. She is an excellent crosser of the ball and will provide an attacking presence on the left flank. In addition, her work ethic and an aggressive mentality will greatly contribute to the team's defensive efforts."
Southeast will also welcome walk-on Chelsea Ballard (Florissant, Mo./Hazelwood West H.S.) to the team. Ballard was a varsity starter earning Rookie of the Year and Second Team All-Conference honors as a sophomore and Defender of the Year, First Team All-Conference, and Second Team All-State accolades as a junior. Ballard was also selected as one of Saint Louis and the area's top 10 prep soccer players by ESPN Rise.
Coach Nelson on Ballard: "Chelsea will provide a solid defensive presence. She has the proven ability to mark players out of the game. She is a ball winner who values possession and plays simply and quickly out of the back. Chelsea has a good service and we look forward to enhancing her ability to get forward and assist our attack on the flank."
"We have an outstanding nucleus of experienced players returning next season," said Nelson. "I am confident that they will work with and guide this freshman class to become the complete kind of championship program we strive for at Southeast Missouri State."
